Holder for infants&#39; nursing bottles



y 5, 1953 R. J. WALSH 2,637,515

HOLDER FOR INFANTS NURSING BOTTLES Filed April 19, 1950 INVENTOR Bum/JAM ATTORNEY Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE HOLDER FOR INFANTS"NURSING BOTTLES Richard J. Walsh, Haven't-own, Pa.

Application April 19, 1950, Serial No. 156,758

2. Claims.

The present invention relates to amusement and feeding devices for infants.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved amusement and feeding device for infants. Another object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and attractive device which can be quickly and easily mounted on. a'crib'or play-pen or the like and which serves effectively to hold a nursing bottle as well as a plurality of toys so that they are readily acces ible to the infant and yet are out of the way when not wanted. Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

Generally speaking, the present invention comprehends an elongated belt or strap integrally formed, by extrusion r molding, from rubberor other suitable flexible and resilient materialthe belt or strap being provided with detachable securing means at its ends whereby it can be attached to the bars of an infants crib or play-pen and having a longitudinal slit or opening into which a nursing bottle can be inserted and firmly frictionally engaged and having one or more smaller slits or openings longitudinally spaced therea-long for securely holding rattles or other toys so that they can be grasped and pulled down by the infant but will be returned to more or less elevated position by the resilience of the strap or belt when released.

For purpose of illustration, one embodiment which is presently preferred is illustrated in the drawingsit being understood and intended however that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities herein shown and described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention as it appears in use.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 with one end of the strap or belt shown in closed looped position and the other end shown in open position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which two straps or belts can be interconnected to provide a longer span.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view generally along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In Figures 1-4, there is shown one embodiment of the present invention comprising an elongated one-piece strap or belt ID of natural or synthetic Cl. 2d8102) rubber, synthetic resin or other suitable material which is flexible and which is also resilient or capable of returning to its original size and shape after being stretched. The strap or belt I0 is in the form of a relatively thin flat ribbon and is pef'erably formed by extrusion, i. e. by forcing the rubber or resin, in more or less plastic form, through a suitable die and solidifying the resulting strip. It is also possible, however, to form the strap or belt in other ways, as for example by injection molding or by mechanically cutting it from a relatively thicker length of material.

A. hole H is provided at each end of the strap or belt iii and is constructed and arrangedtc receive a fastening element [2 which consists of a pair of spaced heads i3 connected by a relatively short shank ld-the stretchability of the strap or belt permitting the hole II to be temporarily enlarged to enable one of the heads to be forced therethrough.

Spaced inward a short distance from each hole I! is a more or less dumbbell-shaped opening [5 formed. by a pair of spaced generally circular holes 56 connected by a narrow relatively short longitudinally extending slit [1. As shown in Figure 1, the ends of the strap or belt it] can be looped around the bars i8 of a crib I 9 and the fastening elements I: can be engaged within the openings [5, with the shank l4 fitting in one of the holes I 6. as indicated in Figure 4.

Spaced still further inward are other dumbbellshaped openings Ell identical with the openings it but intended to receive and hold rattles or other toys in the manner shown in Figure 1.

A larger opening 2! is formed generally at the center of the strap or belt lE3--the opening 2! being formed by a pair of spaced holes 22 connected by a relatively long longitudinally extending slit 23. The opening 2! is adapted to receive and frictionallv to hold a nursing bottle 24 which distends the slit 23 and is firmly gripped by the rubber or the like. By positioning the bottle so that its upper end is closer to the strap, its center of gravity will cause it to tilt to upright position when. released by the infant.

The length of the strap or belt i ii is preferably somewhat less than the distance between the bars it so that it is stretched a little when installed. The resilience of the rubber or the like holds the bottle and the toys in relatively elevated position except when grasped and pulled down by the child. When the bars are spaced relatively far apart, as for example in a large play-pen, two of the straps or belts Hi can be interconnected in the manner shown in Figure 3, i. e. by overlapping the ends and by inserting the fastening element l2 of each strap within the opening 15 of the other strap. The two ends of a single strap can be connected in like manner to form a continuous loop which can be used as a restraining belt to hold an infant in a high chair, etc.

Where the space between the supporting bars 18 is relatively short, the strap can be correspondingly shortened by fastening one or both of the fastening elements within the openings 20 instead of the openings I5.

In place of the button-type fastening elements l2, it is possible to provide other types of detachable engaging elements, as for example snap-fasteners.

The belt or strap can be appropriately colored and otherwise decorated to make it attractive to infants. Where the belt or strap is molded instead of being extruded, it can be formed with suitable ornamental designs, etc. In such case, the fastening elements can be molded integrally with the strap as enlarged knobs or buttons.

The present invention can be embodied in various other forms and modifications and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to determine the scope of the invention. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. For use in holding a nursing bottle or the like, an elongated strap integrally formed of a continuous and. imperforate length of thin flat flexible and resilient material, said strap having fastening elements at its ends whereby it can be secured to spaced supporting members in somewhat stretched taut condition, said strap being provided with a narrow elongated cut slit intermediate the ends of the strap, said slit extending longitudinally of the strap and being generally centered and parallel to the side edges of the strap so as to provide normally co-planar half-Width sections of strap on either side of the slit, the ends of the slit terminating in enlarged holes providing a more or less continuous fully enclosed dumbbell-shaped opening in the strap, said slit being adapted to receive a nursing bottle or the like, with the normally co-planar half-Width sections extending around the bottle on diametrically opposite sides thereof in stretched generally arcuate condition wherein they grip and frictionally hold the bottle against accidental displaoeent, the half-width sections being disposed around the bottle in dif ferent axially-displaced planes.

2. A construction according to claim 1 wherein the fastening elements comprise enlarged-head buttons or the like secured at the ends of the strap and relatively small dumbbell-shaped openings formed a short distance in from the ends, whereby the ends of the strap can be looped around the spaced supporting members and detachably secured thereto by inserting the buttons into the aforesaid small dumbbell-shaped openings.

RICHARD J. WALSH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 204,927 Warren June 18, 1878 788,461 Foote Apr. 25, 1905 1,014,004 Irwin Jan. 9, 1912 1,132,887 Swikard Mar. 23, 1915 1,200,698 Benzbach Oct. 10, 1916 

